SOME of Wirral's most desirable properties are being devalued in a rash of ill-conceived developments, a leading MP has claimed.

Luxury homes standing in their own extensive grounds are losing their potential market price when planning permission for new homes within the gardens is granted, according to Wirral South MP Ben Chapman.

The end result, he says is detached homes being swallowed up in a frenzy of building work.

Mr Chapman said: "Clearly people have the right to sell their gardens which are particularly popular for new properties.

"But it's important to preserve the features. Towns along the Dee coast such as Heswall and Gayton belong to the whole of Wirral, not just the people who live there, but what we are seeing is the urbanisation of desirable semi-rural and coastal environments."

One of the hardest hit towns is Heswall where several applications have been passed in the exclusive Oldfield Road and Pipers Way areas.

Mr Chapman is organising an urgent meeting.

According to experts many properties with their own grounds in Heswall and Gayton would fetch in excess of £1m if put on the market.

A 1.25 acre site in Oldfield Road offering unrivalled views over the Dee is on the market now for in the region of £1.25m. The advert offers the site as a potential development site for two five bedroom houses.

Over the past few months there have been several contentious developments in the area which have been met with vehement protests from campaigners including the Heswall Society.

Stuart Marsden, chairman of the society, said: "

"It is understandable that people want to cash in, but it is having a damaging impact on the area."